The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-15
AMOS J. CUMMINGS.
THE PENSION BUREAU.
Facts About Commissioner Blacks
Administration of the ONCE.

Facts About Commissioner Blacks
Administration of the Office.
WASHINGTON, May l4.-Probably no one
of President Cleveland's minor appoint
ments has been 50 severely condemned as
that of Gen. John c. Black, of Illinois, to be
Commissioner of Pensions. The friends of
Gen. w. w. Dudley, the famous Indiana
political manager, who was given the Com
miSsionership of Pensions as a reward for
his services to the Republicans i'll the Gar
field campaign, have kept up a continual
growl which sometimes amounts to
a howl in Congress about the maladminis
tration of his successor, Gen. Black. A
statistical comparison between Commits
sioner Dudleys administration and Com
missioner Blacks administration shows that
the latter'S is far superior in every respect.
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888, under
Commissioner Dudleys administration,
there were 81, 279 pension certificates issued,
of which number IS, 161 were original cases
and the balance increase and miscellaneous
claims. For the fiscal year ending June
so, 1884, the total number of certifi-
Gates issued was 81, 129, of which "a. 100 were
original, and the balance increase and mis-
cellaneous cases. In the next fiscal year up
to March II, 1895, when Gen. Black entered
upon the duties of his Office there were SO, 154
certificates of all kinds issued. From March
II up to June 80 OF the same year, period
of only two months and half, tthere We're
issued 81 ,252 pension certificates. The fiscal
year ending June 80, 1886, made a splendid
showing for the new administration. there
having been issued 1854 pension certifi-
Gates, 40, S52 Of which were original cases.
In that same fiscal year of 1886 there were
also issued 1885 supplemental certificates
TO widows and dependent relatives whose
pension had been increased by act of March
10, 1886, grand total for that one year of
159,643 allowances. These supplemental
certificates We're issued within very few
months after the passage of the law, the
Commissioner of Pensions having person
ally directed how the work should be done.
At no time in the history of the Office has
such an enormous number of pensions
| been increased, without interference with
the regular work of the office OF
without a call upon Congress for
additional help. From July /, 1886, up tc
and including April 80, 1887, there were "A,
Cos certificates issued, of which "a $50 were
original cases. There are yet two months
of the present fiscal year remaining, and the
result viii be a magnificent showing, greater
| by far than any previous year in the history
| of the Office. 1t should be borne in nlinC
that this immense amount of work has beer
performed with reduction of the clerica
force of over 100.
Tomeet the constantly increasing demand,
on the Office as well as to bring up the long
arrears of the work Commissioner Black re
sorted TO a strict application of business
methods. He stopped the practice Of giving
election" leaves of absence to employee
with turn for practical politics. He GU
down the sick leaves" by throwing out al
sham cases. He required a close application
to business during business hours, and b,
a'rigid discipline he brought every employ,
to see and do his duty As a result h
brought up all the arrears, including case
which had been neglected by attorneys, anC
disposed of all cases as they came i'll so tina
now he is abreast of the current work
is doubtful whether "A better showing coul
be made by any other bureau chief.